NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

CarComplaints.com Notes: We're not used to seeing any major problems with Hyundai, which makes the early signs of trouble with the 2013 Elantra very surprising, in a bad way.

Early trends show problems with the steering wandering / pulling to one side along with premature tire wear. Elantra owners have tried sensor adjustments, wheel alignments, even replacing axles, most with no luck. Hyundai has made vehicle buybacks through arbitration, but that rarely works out well financially for owners in the end.

Also there is a pattern of complaints about the 2013 Elantra brakes grinding at very low mileage. It seems there was a bad batch of OEM pads & rotors, but so far Hyundai is not doing a recall. Instead Hyundai issued a TSB & dealers have been replacing pads & rotors on a per-complaint basis.

The final straw is that for several years in a row, Elantra owners report significantly lower gas mileage than the EPA estimates, & there's a small trend of engine problems.

10.0

really awful

Crashes / Fires:

4 / 6

Injuries / Deaths:

0 / 0

Average Mileage:

26,613 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

Elantra 4-cyl

40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went out to start car and it would not start...I tried several times and finally held the key as far a it would go and it cranked. I took it to the Hyundai dealer and they kept it over night. They could find nothing wrong with it. Next month same thing happened only this time I could not start it. I called Hyundai dealer and they towed the car and kept it for a week. The car started right back up for them and they could not find the problem. The battery is good and everything comes on like the radio and wipers but doesn't start. The only thing the tow guy did was to put the car in neutral to get it on the tow truck. When I went on line to find you all I saw several people with the same car having the same problem, my warranty gives out in a few hundred miles and I am afraid that when it doesn't start again I will not be covered. And I am afraid it will not start when I am at the beach or out of town or the store. I T is a very vulnerable place to be because I have children. Updated 09/15/15

Elantra

miles

Car will not start! everything comes on lights radio N etc. I had my battery check it great. Can't find a solution. I have been out several times and this has happened. I have lost income because of this issue.

Elantra

102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car will not start. The immobilizer icon shows up in the dash and both smart key fobs do not work. Called Hyundai customer service and could not do anything but refer me to the nearest dealership.. dealer promised to call back but never did.

Elantra

30,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the key was difficult to turn over and start the vehicle. The contact had to make several attempts to get the key to turn over in the ignition. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle also hesitated while driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery had low voltage and needed to be replaced. The dealer did not provide an in-depth diagnosis and only replaced the part. The contact also continued to experience the vehicle being difficult to shift out of park into other gears and that the failure was progressing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 09/08/15

Elantra

40,611 miles

I was just leaving for work and I tried to start the car, and I turned the key all the light on the dash light up and nothing happen, no sound nothing was turning, I could use the radio and rolls the power windows up and down and I had to remove the key and tried it 2 more times and then it started up with no problems this is the second time this happen and both times I left the car overnight and tried it start it in the morning.

Elantra

18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First incident happened in April of 2014. Pulling out of my driveway the power steering went out. Called the dealership, made an appointment for the following week to bring my car in and it had only happened once at low speeds. Power steering went out 2 more times during the day, called the dealership back and informed them I was bringing my car in at that moment as I felt unsafe. On my way to the dealership driving down the highway, the power steering gave out on me while exiting the highway going 75 mph. I was able to get off and luckily the dealership was right off the exit. The eps light was on and it threw a code. They told me my steering column was bad. They replaced it and all was fine. Then I had an issue with my factory installed remote start a few months later. They told me a circuit was blown and it had to be replaced. Now this year (may of 2015) I have had the remote start and the power steering go out on me once again. My car is in the shop, was told I needed steering column replaced again. I refused this answer, and they are digging deeper and have figured out there is an electrical problem with my car. I have had a loaner car for 4 days and they still are no closer to figuring out what is wrong.

Elantra

480 miles

Snow predicted. Left home to go run errands at 9:30 am, car looked showroom new, got 1/2 mile, car pulled itself right (as it has previously) and bumped a small tree, no damage. Car backed up to roadside 10', car cut itself off (as it had before), windshield went from 30 degrees to 450 degrees in 3 seconds. I left my purse (with $1200 in it) and everything and fled across road to save my life. Asked man there if he had a fire extinquisher, he didn't, asked me to stay because it was so cold, and I said no, I wanted to check my car and in that 60 seconds, I walked out and stood in his driveway and car was totally a blaze. It happened so quickly I would not have survived had I not fled the vehicle the car from day 2 rarely cranked, often cut off going 5-55 mph, pulled off road to right, and scared me speechless. Like it was haunted and drove itself. I only had it 4 months. It was a death trap and should never have been put on the highway. For some reason, I got arrested, I was totally sober and had no medication in my system. Trooper had a breath alyzer, never used it. Cuffed me very tightly, read me no rights, and took me to station entrance. He grabbed my arm and drew blood (illegally), no phone call, finally read my rights, and denied me seeing my lawyer 3 times. Illegally. For 3 days & nights, I was never allowed a phone call or code, am disabled and have osteoporosis & had to sleep on a 1/4" of flat plywood, though my joints don't touch, I have restless leg syndrome & must sleep elevated, it was impossible. I also went without any of my prescriptions 3 days. All because this scary car burned to bent metal with no dash, no engine or parts, no tires, seats, nothing. So not only was I in shock, out of any contact without my prescriptions, and had to pay $475 bond, though I only get $969, this car ruined my life over a year ago, and I haven't had a car since.

Elantra 4-cyl

13,000 miles

My son was driving home from work one morning and he said he began to see a light glow from inside the accessories compartment above the shifter. He stated a couple of seconds later it melted away and flames were coming from the hole. I have not taken it to the dealer yet due to them telling me they are busy and it would be about a week before they could get it in.

Elantra

15,765 miles

When reaching 45-50 mph, steering became so loose that it was difficult to stay in my lane. Pulled over to see if there were any apparent problems with the tires, but none were seen. Tried driving again, same problem occurred at about the same speed (noticed it around 40 mph this time). Could not continue trip; had to be towed 50 miles back to indianapolis. Have an appointment with the dealership tomorrow (closed for thanksgiving holiday today). Traction control had briefly engaged about 10 minutes earlier on a slick area, but seemed to be an appropriate response, and the light went off. Not sure if this is related.

Elantra 4-cyl

59,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car would not start. After a few attempts with holding the key on start position it would start as normal. It was taken to local dealership who state the engine ground wires were corroded. It's a 2013 Elantra when asked what caused the corrosion, the dealership stated they didn't know but they have had 8 other vehicles with the same issue this month. I'd be concerned this could become a fire hazard and it cause the vehicle to shut off while running. Thank you for your time.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Elantra 4-cyl

425 miles

Car loosely steered barely off road, 1/8 mile from home, bumped tree 15' away, backed up, engine shut off (as usual since day 2 of lease), windshield heated to over 150 degree's in 35 degree weather, so I vacated car, which was in flames 2-3 minutes and burned to ash..had 5 months, daily problems, battery, fuses, ignition, numerous calls to dealer, shop, no help, could easily have died in firetrap alive, car dove itself, when & where it pleased, and was uncontrollable.even Hyundai motor finance has not paid on gap coverage in 11 months, ruining my credit to boot, and was over financed past legal limits, on a total new lemon and not only was car not replaced as promised, I cannot get a response from Hyundai, or Hyundai finance.,this was the biggest mistake of my life, and I will tell everyone to never purchase a Hyundai product. You should be ashamed.and lose your franchise license.I will have to sue to ever begin to be compensated for all you have done to me, and because of your product.

Elantra

41,048 miles

The indicator light continues to go off and on because the door is being indicated as open. It subsequently unlocks the doors and turns the dome lights repeatedly on and off again. This causes a safety concern because I don't know what other car functions turn off if the door is "open".

Elantra 4-cyl

6,000 miles

Unable to insert the key in the ignition no matter how hard we tried.this happened fairly soon after we purchased the car from the dealer; it has happened numerous times and has been towed to the dealer 3 times, but the dealer eventually gets the key in the ignition and claims there is no problem "can not duplicate the problem". at one incident the drive of the tow truck hammered the key quite hard in the ignition and forced the key in! I have contacted Hyundai motor and they say they can not do anything for me and claim that" this is a common problem, and I need to steer the steering wheel really hard to get the steering mechanism loose" this should not happen with 6 months old car while it is still under warranty.any input or advice would beappreciated. Thank you.

Elantra 4-cyl

34,000 miles

I purchased this vehicle in June 2013. I had no complaints until July of 2014, wherein my car picks and chooses when to start. I have looked online and there are many others who seem to have this complaint. I finally gave in on Aug. 24, after my car sat for two days because I could not get it to start. I called the Hyundai 24 hour roadside and had them tow it to the nearest dealership. The tow truck driver initially tried to start it, and it didn't. he popped the button nearest the top of the shifter and pressed it in, and put the car in neutral, it then started but sputtered like it wanted to turn off. He was able to drive the car onto the tow truck. The next morning, I spoke with the mechanic at the dealership who indicated that the car was starting for them just fine. He said there are so many sensors that it could be one, but they wouldn't know where to start as there are so many and could not make an educated guess. He wanted to keep it overnight to see if it would act up for them. It is now 2pm two days later and the mechanic claims there is still no issue, he said they have let it run all morning and it is fine. This has become ridiculous, especially when I see so many others with the same complaint, yet nothing being done. Help, NHTSA!

Elantra 4-cyl

4,800 miles

Was taking trash to the dump, 1 person's worth, going 5 mph 1/ of mile from my home, car veered to right edge of pavement, and where a bulldozer had drug road edges and broke pavement off, caused me to hit a tree at a very slow speed. I reversed car, backed up 50 ft. And car shut itself off & windshield got extremely hot, and I got out of vehicle, smoke coming from hood area, left my purse, and walked across road to ask for fire extinguisher. Man had just got up, hadn't had coffee, and invited me in. I went back outside and saw car was burning, so I stayed on his porch, then front yard. I knew trash may have aerosol canisters, and not worth my life to try to go through fire to save my purse. Cops came (9:45-10:15 am, and said I looked funny and arrested me accusing me of being under the influence of medication. I was not on any medicine and definitely not drinking. Car was a total loss after explosion and I have not had another for over 8 months. I am on disability for fibromyalgia, neuralgia, & osteoporosis, and hollow bones. I fall quite often (one leg is shorter than other). Officer himself drew my blood in a public place, and refused to let me see my attorney 3 times. I never got to use a phone in 2 days. But vehicle was problematic from day 1, battery would not hold a charge, jump a riding lawn mower, and would just cut off while I was going down the road. Steering was also a problem from day one, like tires were never aligned.

Elantra 4-cyl

25,000 miles

Over the past 11 month this car has had several incidences where it just will not start. On a few occasions it started after a couple of tries and a few occasions where it would not start when I needed it to but had no problem starting an hour or two later. This weekend was the biggest issue. I parked my car Friday evening with no indication that there was an issue but on Saturday the car would not start, later on Saturday the car would not start, Sunday the car would not start. Hyundai roadside assistance sent someone out to jump my car but the car would not start. They sent out a tow truck to take the car to the dealership and he used the shift override to put the car in neutral and the car started right up once it was in neutral and it drove just fine. When this issue occurs the instrument panel lights up but when I turn the key to start the car, the panel goes out and there is nothing but silence from the engine. The last time it happened I took the car to the dealership but they said they could not duplicate the issue so there was nothing they could do because it is not causing any codes to go to the computer.

Elantra 4-cyl

7,000 miles

When I was driving my car shut off without warning. This is the 4th time this has happened. I took it back to todd archer Hyundai and they looked at and it told me it was the electrical grounds but it just happened again. Please help. Im in the military and I need my car for work. The car is unsafe they won't swap it out. Initially it was a demo car.

Elantra 4-cyl

5,750 miles

While driving my vehicle at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any apparent reason. I was in the middle lane of a three lane highway. I had to coast over to the side of the highway with no steering or brakes due to the engine failure. Once at the side of the highway, the vehicle re-started immediately and ran normally again for about a week when the same thing happened again, this time on a side street at approximately 15 mph. The vehicle once again started back up with no problem. It has run normally again as of this posting. Updated 10/23/2014

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